Melissa Miller Lonsk doesn’t remember everything about the vacations she went on as a child, but she can easily recall one particular detail: the name of the travel agency her family used to book cruises.
Thanks in part to Sand and Sea Travel, Lonsk caught the travel bug early.
As a college student and then 20-something working for a book publisher in New York, she devoted herself to budget-friendly adventures, increasing her exposure to new places. Lonsk stayed with friends in countries all over the world, fueling her passion for different cultures.
And when Lonsk and her now-husband Seth got engaged in 2014, she asked what he would think if she quit her job and planned a six-month world tour after the wedding.
“I mean, I was half joking,” Lonsk said. “And he said, ‘Yeah.’ Let’s do this.
The prank not only spurred the newlyweds on an adventure — including extended stays in Australia and New Zealand — but also set Lonska on a new career path. Seven years later, she is a full-time travel agent. Her company, Vacation Curation, operates as part of the Tzell Travel Group, where she trained following a career change.
Contrary to popular belief, Lonsk insists that the industry is not dying.
“People think it’s going to go away with the Internet, but it’s just changing,” she said. “You want someone to help you sort through all the information. Yes, you can do it yourself, but knowing it’s been picked helps you not waste time.”
Agents are also able to leverage existing relationships with hotels, resorts, and destination management companies.
Major changes in the travel industry as a result of COVID-19 have actually created new opportunities for agents like Lonsk. See the article : health-department-celebrates-2022-pride. In March 2020, she helped several clients bring elderly parents and other family members from abroad back home to the US.
More than two years after the pandemic, Lonsk’s access to a global distribution system that connects directly with many airlines, hotels and car rental services has proven beneficial for those facing an unpredictable and understaffed travel environment.
“Ideally now I can see that unfortunately your flight has been canceled or delayed and you will miss your connection,” Lonsk said. “I can rebook in the system while you’re on the flight. I don’t always have to wait on hold because I have priority line.”
In addition to managing the inconvenience of modern air travel, agents can also leverage existing relationships with hotels, resorts and destination management companies. Lonsk’s association with Tzell gives it the opportunity to meet with vendors around the world and then match their offerings to the needs of its customers.
One of Lonsko’s favorite parts of the job is building relationships with clients and then helping them plan their journeys at different stages of their lives.
“For a lot of people, the first time they go to a travel agency is when they go on their honeymoon because it’s going to be a really big spend for them,” she said. “Now all those honeymooners from six years ago have little kids and they’re going there and traveling. I have a few families with older kids. I ask people to send me pictures of their vacations so I can see how their families are growing and changing.”
“I just tell everyone that they’ve got to be prepared.”
Largely due to staff shortages in the post-pandemic world, almost everything—from booking travel to processing paperwork to securing refunds—is taking longer. Flight delays and cancellations are more widespread. This can mean hectic travel days, missed trips and other expensive hassles that Lonsk tries to fix in real time for customers who pay it a flat fee for services.
“I just tell everybody to be prepared,” she said. To see also : 10 Great Books That Hooked Readers From The Very First Line.
Lonsk recommends opting for refundable fares, but reminds customers to check specific airlines’ refund policies before booking. Many regulations have become stricter.
But she remains optimistic and grateful for the opportunity to educate travelers. She is in such demand that she occasionally has to suggest another agent to a prospective client.
“When people come back and they had a good time, it’s a memory,” she said. “Vacations are things you’ll remember. Like I said, I still remember the travel agency that booked our cruises when I was a kid. [I] contribute to that.”
How is the COVID-19 disease transmitted?
COVID-19 is transmitted when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and small airborne particles that contain the virus. The risk of inhaling these is greatest when people are in close proximity, but they can be inhaled over longer distances, especially indoors. This may interest you : Federal food aid in Wisconsin has evolved, but users still face decades-old barriers. Transmission can also occur when contaminated liquids are squirted or sprayed into the eyes, nose, or mouth, and rarely via contaminated surfaces.
Can you get COVID-19 by touching infected surfaces? It is possible for a person to contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not believed to be the main way the virus spreads.
How does the coronavirus disease spread?
The coronavirus disease is a respiratory disease that can be transmitted from person to person. The virus is believed to spread primarily between people in close contact (within about 6 feet) of each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
When do you start being contagious with COVID-19?
A person with COVID-19 is considered contagious 2 days before the onset of symptoms or 2 days before the date of a positive test if they have no symptoms.
How likely are children to catch and transmit COVID-19 in school settings?
Most children do not develop symptoms when infected with the virus, or they develop a very mild form of the disease. However, research has shown that children can become infected and can spread the virus to other children and adults while they are contagious.
Can children spread COVID-19 to others if they don’t have symptoms? Like adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection, children and adolescents can spread SARS-CoV-2 to others if they have no symptoms or have mild, non-specific symptoms and therefore may not know they are infected and contagious. Children are less likely to get seriously ill or die from COVID-19.
Are kids any more or less likely than adults to spread coronavirus?
The first studies showed that children do not contribute much to the spread of the coronavirus. But more recent studies are raising concerns that children could be spreading the infection.
Are you still contagious with COVID-19 after 5 days?
Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, who has worked on similar PCR-based infectiousness studies, agrees that ten days is a useful rule of thumb when people should no longer be contagious. However, it warns that a small number of people may still be infected after this point.
How long can you be contagious after you test positive for COVID-19?
Although it is less likely that a person will transmit the virus later in the course of the disease, it is still possible. Research shows that people continue to shed the virus, which can be grown in the lab – a good test of the virus’ transmission potential – for an average of about eight days after a positive test.
What is the risk of getting coronavirus on a plane?
Because of the way air is circulated and filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes. Although the risk of infection on an airplane is small, passengers should avoid contact with sick passengers and wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer containing 60% to 95% alcohol. more information: Risk of exposure during travel
What happens if a passenger is sick on an international or domestic flight during the COVID-19 pandemic? Under current federal regulations, pilots must report all illnesses and deaths to the CDC before arriving at their U.S. destination. In accordance with CDC protocols, if a sick passenger has a communicable disease that poses a risk to others aboard the aircraft, CDC works with local and state health departments and international public health agencies to contact exposed passengers and crew. your current contact details when booking your ticket so that you can be notified if you are exposed to a sick passenger during the flight. For more information, see CDC’s Protecting Travelers’ Health From Airport to Community: Infectious Disease Investigation on Flights website.
How long is a person with COVID-19 contagious?
According to the CDC, data shows that patients with mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 remain contagious for up to 10 days after symptoms appear. Those with severe to critical illness stemming from a COVID infection are likely not contagious for 20 days after the first symptoms appear.
Does the COVID-19 virus live for long on clothing?
Research shows that COVID-19 does not survive as long on clothing compared to hard surfaces, and exposing the virus to heat can shorten its life. A study published last year found that at room temperature, COVID-19 could be detected on fabric for up to two days, compared to seven days for plastic and metal.
How long can COVID-19 linger in the air?
The smallest very fine droplets and aerosol particles that form when these tiny droplets dry quickly are small enough to remain suspended in the air for minutes to hours.
Do vaccinated individuals still need to apply personal protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Vaccinated individuals must continue to follow public health measures in accordance with national recommendations. Vaccinated people can still get infected and infect others, but this happens much less often than unvaccinated people.
Can you get COVID-19 when you are fully vaccinated? While the fully vaccinated are less likely to transmit the coronavirus to the unvaccinated, the virus can still be spread. Please get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19, even after you have been fully vaccinated.
What is the duration of protection against COVID-19 when vaccinated?
Studies on the duration of protection of the effectiveness of the vaccine against COVID-19 show that the effectiveness of the vaccine decreases more against infections and symptomatic diseases than against severe diseases within 6 months after full vaccination.
Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I am vaccinated against COVID-19?
If you are vaccinated against COVID-19, you generally do not need to wear a mask outdoors. Check with your local COVID-19 community for recommendations on when to wear a mask indoors and additional precautions you can take to protect yourself from getting sick from COVID-19. If you are immunocompromised or are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19, learn more about how to protect yourself.
